Arizona man stabbed wife to death in front of their 7 kids, police say

March 26, 2015: This law enforcement booking photo from the Maricopa County, Ariz., sheriff's office shows John Leo Davis.
(AP)

An Arizona man stabbed his wife to death after she confronted her for slapping one of their seven children for playing videogames, police said Friday.

Goodyear police said the children witnessed at least part of the Thursday night attack. The 14-year-old daughter called 911 for help.

The husband called 911 as well reportedly crying “hysterically,” saying he had lost his mind and stabbed his wife, police said in a court document.

The document identified the husband as 37-year-old John Leo Davis and the wife as Michele Davis. Police said she was 35.

A son told investigators that the husband had struck him after becoming upset with him for playing videogames. The child told his mother and she confronted the father. Police say the children saw the husband chase the wife with a kitchen knife, police said.

Police found the woman at the front door in a pool of blood. Investigators counted at least 13 stab wounds in her back.

The husband was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder and jailed on $2 million bond. He didn't have a lawyer when he appeared before a judge.

He initially made "incriminating statements" but refused to speak with investigators after being arrested, the document said.

Police say none of the children were hurt. They were removed from the home and put in the care of relatives. Their ages ranged from 3 to 14, police said.

The husband and wife were parents to three of the seven children. The husband is the father of two others and the wife the mother of the remaining two. Police spokeswoman Lisa Kutis said an eigth child was not at home when the attack took place.

The document said a law enforcement criminal history for the husband indicated he had several previous arrests in alleged domestic violence cases involving Michele Davis or a former spouse in at least two other states — Utah and California.